This investment should mainly be used to develop the expertise of the Puurs site, not only for Novartis medicines, but also for the development of products from other companies. According to the ACV (CSC), the Puurs production site has long been a “leader” in its field, in particular because of Alcon, a former subsidiary of Novartis. The company, which specializes in manufacturing surgical kits for eye operations, was split in 2019.
However, “the Puurs site must adapt to decreasing volumes within the ophthalmology product portfolio as well as reduced effectiveness caused by external factors,” said the Novartis spokesperson. “These factors lead to increased unit costs.”
The unions and management have already started the information and consultation phase on Wednesday, in accordance with the Renault law on collective redundancies.
“We are committed to working closely with our social partners in a constructive and transparent dialogue,” promises Novartis. “We will keep our employees informed every step of the way. We will do everything we can to save some jobs. We will also support our employees with their mental health and well-being during this period of uncertainty.”
Around 1,160 people work for Novartis at the Puurs site. In Belgium, the Basel-based company employs a total of 1,750 workers.
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